She took my hand in both of hers and stroked it gently.
'I would rather never go on the hills again than seem ungrateful to you, Mr. Maude.'
'Ungrateful, child! You don't know how your little sunbeam face has brightened this old room.'
'Has it, really?' She seemed pleased, but rather puzzled. 'Well, I'm very glad, but that doesn't make it any the less kind of you to teach me.'
'There has been no kindness at all on my side, I assure you.'
She shook her head, and her curly hair touched my shoulder.
'Yes, there has, and I like to think that there has. Nobody knows how good you are but Ta-ta and me; we often talk about you when we're out together, don't we, Ta-ta?'
The collie wagged her tail violently, taking this little bit of affectionate conversation as a welcome relief to the monotony of our studies.
'Well, I shall leave Ta-ta with you, then, to keep my memory green while I'm away.'
'Away! Are you going away?'